Billionaire Bear Shifters A Paranormal Romance Complete Series Boxset - Brittany White Page 0,120

opened the door he smiled at her and waved her in like she was an important guest and not somebody on the staff.

“Hey, I was worried you wouldn’t show up,” Cody said. “Come in, I got dinner for you. You must be tired. I know how hard you work. Please relax! Take off your shoes. I’ll get you a drink. Make yourself at home.”

Jessie dropped her duffle bag on the floor and blinked, feeling a little dazed.

Cody’s suite was... fantastic. All the suites at the Black Bear Lake Lodge were luxurious. She had been expecting luxury.

But this was something else. She should have figured the Strauss brothers who actually lived in their giant suites all the time would have pretty swanky accommodations. Cody’s was the first suite she’d seen with a hardwood floor and plush designer area rugs artfully placed under mid-century modern pieces. There was a fully stocked wet bar in the living room and a full kitchen with granite tops. The curtains were open on French doors that went out to a wide balcony looking out on the lake beyond and there a hot tub out there to top it off. The decor was modern, but eclectic and somehow still homey, even cluttered with books, papers, and coffee mugs sitting around. Jessie spotted an empty take-out box on a side table and found it sort of endearing that Cody’s place was not pristine.

“Come here,” he urged her. He took her hand and led her to a plus mustard-colored couch, gently prodding her to sit down. “Please. Relax a minute. Or come and eat dinner whenever you want. I wanted you to be able to take some time to yourself. Sort of the real reason I invited you over.”

“You invited me over to make me relax?” Jessie said. She blinked at him, dazed.

“Well... yeah.” Cody shrugged, looking almost embarrassed. But Jessie could see the dinner laid out on the table in the dining area right by those French doors. She smelled steak, shrimp scampi, garlic potatoes... Her mouth watered.

Cody tugged on her hand and Jessie tugged back. Her skin tingled where their fingers were tangled. He raised an eyebrow, letting her pull him toward her.

She was probably misinterpreting this. He’d asked her out, yes, but that was before he’d known about her six adorable little problems.

But just now she didn’t care.

Neither of them spoke as Jessie stepped forward and pressed her lips to his.

42

Cody

Well, I didn’t see this coming.

The last Cody had known as far as anything romantic with Jessie, she’d turned him down. That was fine, even if it was a big disappointment. It didn’t make him any less willing to help her. He’d spent the entire day wondering what she might need and resisting the urge to text her a million questions.

Instead, he’d decided that if he had the opportunity to have her over, he’d treat her like a queen. She deserved that much. Connor had told him he was grinning like a dope. He’d even been nicer to his kitchen staff than usual, all because he couldn’t stop thinking about Jessie and how she’d adopted six children who had nowhere else to go to escape their abuse. Jessie, who had a Care Bear on her car and lit up from the inside just talking about the book she’d just read.

Ah, Jessie...

When she kissed him, he gasped a little against her mouth. But inwardly, his bear roared.

Everything seemed to be coming together at that moment. Any interest and attraction were now intensified tenfold. His bear wanted more. His blood was hot. Jessie had pressed her hands against his chest, leaning in, her soft, sweet mouth sliding against his as he found himself automatically responding with fervor. He clutched her arms and nudged her lips apart and she melted against him.

Dimly, he thought that she must be tired and hungry after her long day. But just now, she seemed hungry for something else... He wasn’t about to turn her away.

Still, it seemed worth checking in and, summoning all his strength, he pulled away and whispered, “Jessie, are you-”

“Yes.” She spoke against his lips and her hands slid up to rub the back of his neck as she kissed the corner of his mouth again. “Yes, I want this. Don’t you?”

“Yes.” He growled it more than he said it, and pulled her closer.

Dinner was forgotten as Cody’s mouth covered hers. He touched his tongue to hers and she was tentative until he deepened the kiss, gently probing and tasting